Adriana Cardell Nicolás: "Being from Alicante and a 'foguerer' is a source of pride"

Adriana Cardell Nicolás has been associated with the Hogueras de Alicante for 16 years. Throughout this time, she has remained with the Port d'Alacant 'foguera', which she considers "my home and my family." This young woman is clear that "being from Alicante and a 'foguerer' is a source of pride."

Her involvement in the city's official celebrations has allowed her to closely witness "the unity we all have as festival-goers to fight and enhance the Fiesta," which she defines as "tradition, sentiment, music, and gunpowder." This combination "represents the culture we have in Alicante."

Adriana Cardell Nicolás has also experienced a very special year at the Port d'Alacant 'foguera'. She had the honor of being its 'bellea' in 2024, a role she adds to her festival history, having held the titles of 'dama d'honor infantil', 'presidenta infantil', and 'dama d'honor'.

Now, she is experiencing the journey of being a candidate for 'bellea del foc'. She does so with the same enthusiasm she feels during the grand days of June. She highlights the plantà on June 20, when the gondolas unload the 'ninots' and 'remates'. "That moment makes you feel that the 'Fogueres' have arrived, reflecting the effort of an entire year."

This Alicante native also has many other memories and recounts an anecdote from 2011, when her children's 'foguera' won the first prize in the Special category. The tradition of Port d'Alacant upon winning gold is "to jump into the water." However, during that year, Adriana Cardell had her arm in a cast and couldn't fulfill it.

Nevertheless, "the emotion" of the news and the overwhelming happiness experienced in the district made her "beg my mother, crying: 'please, I want to jump with them'." She eventually jumped, and after the celebration, "I had to go to the hospital to have my cast changed."